Steam generator or water heater



. 1,637,681 A 1927- T. CLARKSON STEAM GENERATOR 0R WATER HEATER FiledDec. 51, 1925 "2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 251927.

T. CLARKSQN STEAM GENERATOR on WATER HEATER Filed Dec. 51., 1925 2Sheets-Sheet 2 IIYVENTOW Patented Aug. 2-, 1927.

THOMAS CLARKSON, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

STEAM ennnaazroa Application filed December 31, 1925, Serial No.

This invention relates to steam generators or water heaters of the kindcomprising an annular water chamber having short closedended tubes orthimbles projecting radially inwards therefrom into a heating spacethrough which hot gases pass. The object of the invention is to providean improved generator or water heater of this type in which the pathfollowed by the hot gases when flowing through the heating space may beimproved and the amount' of heat transmitted from the hot gases to thewater varied.

According to this invention a tubular member is mounted within theheating chamber with its wall adjacent to the ends of the thimbles, andthe inlet passage for the hot gases at one end of the generator is soformed that a circular motion around the tubular member is imparted tothe hot gases in addition to their longitudinal motion over the thimblesthrough the generator. To this end a substantially helical guide surfaceor passage for the hot gases is conveniently formed in a member at oneend of the generator, the axis of the helix preferably being coincidentwith that of the generator .whereby the desired motion is imparted tothe gases entering the central heating chamber of the generator.

Preferably a valve orthe like is provided -whereby part of the hot gasesmay be bypassed so as not to pass through that part of the centralchamber in which the thimbles lie. One way of effecting this is toprovide a two way valve in the delivery pipe.

for the hot gases exterior to the generator whereby the relative amountsof hot gases passing respectively through the generator and through aby-pass passage can be controlled.

In an alternative arrangement the tubular member may act as the by-passpassage, a valve being arranged to control therelative amount of thegases passing respectively through and around the tubular member. Inthis arrangement the tubular member may itself act as the valve andtothis end may be longitudinally movable so as in one position to rest ona member which closes one of its ends so that all the hot gases arecaused to pass through the surrounding space in which the thimbles lie,while in another position it closes communication between this space andthe outlet passage and itself constitutes the only communicat- 1,637,681PATENT OFFICE.

OR WATER HEATER.

78,672, and in Great Britain January 16, 1825.

caused to pass. "The member on which the tubular member is adapted torest when all the hot gases are to pass around it is convenientlyconical while the gas outlet passage is coaxial with the tubular memberand of such diameter that it forms a substantially gas-tight fit withthe top of the tubular member when this member is raised. In this waythe tubular member acts as a valve by means of which the relativeamounts of the hot gases passing through it and through the annularspace in which the thimbles lie can be varied as desired.

The invention may be carried out in various ways but two alternativeconstructions according to this invention are illustrated somewhatdiagrammatically by way of example in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a vertical section alon the longitudinal axis of oneconstruction 0 generator in which a separate byass valve is provided tovary the amount 0 gas passing thrpugh the heating space of thegenerator, an

Figure 2 is a similar view of an alternative construction in which thetubular member itself acts both as a by-pass passage through which partof the hot gases may be caused to flow and a valve for controlling therelative quantities of the hot gases flowing respectively therethrou hand through the space in which the thim les lie.

In the construction illustrated in Figure 1 the generator or waterheater comprises a substantially annular water chamber built up from twocoaxial cylindrical members A and B connected by suitable plates C and Cat their upper and lower ends. The inner. member B carries a series ofshort closed-ended tubes or thimbles D projecting radially inwardstherefrom, into a central space through which the hot gases are adaptedto pass and is somewhat reduced at its upper end as shown at B to forman outlet passage for these gases.

The-annular water chamber is supported on a base E which convenientlyhas a lining F of refractor material and contains a pluglike member Gialso preferably of refractory material, in which is formed asubstantially helical inlet passage G for the hot gases, this passagecommunicating with a delivery pipe H and also preferably having'a liquidfuel burner indicated at H disposed therein. The helical passage causesthe gases to circulate round the central space as they pass through it.The member G has a hollow central boss G adapted to accomodate a plug Jon the lower end of a tubular member J mounted in the central space ofthe generator and of such diameter that its wall lies adjacent to theinner ends of the thimbles D. The tubular member J comprises a lowerportion J 2 formed of refractory material and an upper portion J formedof metal. The lower end of the upper portion J fits over the upper endof the lower portion J and is connected thereto by one or more pins orthe like J The upper end of the tubular 7 member J is formed conical andsupported by a vertical bolt K, one end of which engages a suitablytapered plug J 5 in the upper end of the member J while the other endengages a bridge piece K extending across the upper end of the outletpassage 13.

The delivery pipe H conveniently communicates with a bypass passage Hand interconnected valves LL are provided controlling respectively thepassages H and H and adapted to be operated simultaneously by a lever Lso as to vary the relative quantities of the hot gases flowingrespectively through the generator or water heater and through theby-pass passage H These valves are so interconnected and arranged thatwhen one is fully open the other is fully closed as shown.

A cylindrical bafile M is conveniently disposed in the water space so asto extend around substantially the whole of that portion of the innercylindrical member B in which the thimbles D are disposed and thusassist in the circulation of water which will tend to pass up inside thebaflle and down outside it. When the apparatus is intended for use as astem generator a perforated steam collecting pipe N is convenientlydisposed in the upper end of the steam and water space as shown.

In the construction illustrated in Figure 2 the steam generator andwater heater comprises an annularhwater space built up from twocylindrical'members O P connected by suitable flanges or the like attheir, upperand lower ends. The inner memb'enP carries a series of shortclosed-ended water tubes or thimbles Q projecting radially inwardshelical passage causes the hot gases to. circulate round the centralspace as they pass,

the helical passage R are caused to flow through the annular space inwhich thethimbles Q lie. When the tubular member is raised however itslower end is opened and in its fully raised position its upper end fitswithin the outlet passage P as shown in dotted lines in the drawing. Inthis position it will be seen that communication be tween th annularspace in which the thimbles Q lie and the outlet P is cutoff so that allthe hot gases are caused to flow through the tubular member S. In itsintermediate position some'of the hot gases pass through the tubularmember S and some through the space surrounding it, the relativequantities of hot gases passing through and around the tubular memberdepending on its position. The tubular member S may be raised andlowered in any suitable way but is conveniently operated by a link Sconnected to a lifting eye S on the upper end of the tubular member. Thelower end of the tu- 'bular member S is convenently steadied when in itsraised or an intermediate position by means of a guide member comprisinga vertical pin S mounted on the member T and carryin a member S havingthree radial plates 5 the outer edges of which freely en.- gage theinterior of the lower end of the tubular member S and thus act as aguide to steady this member when it is not resting on the conical memberT.

As in the construction shown in Figure 1 a cylindrical baffle plate Uisconveniently provided in the annular water space extending around thatpprtion of the inner cylindrical member carrying the thimbles, thisbattle serving to assist the circulation of the water which tends toflow up inside the baffle and down outside it.

In either of the constructions illustrated, where a liquid fuel burneris provided in the helical gas inlet passage, this burner isconveniently disposed so that the hot gases therefrom flow along thehelical passage into the central space and may be employed either tosupplement the hot gases normally supplied or instead of' them.

The apparatus is particularly adapted for utilizing the exhaust gasesfrom a Diesel or other internal combustion engine to generate steam orheat water and, in this case, the liquid fuel burner may be used tosupply to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. A water heater comprising 'an annular water chamber surroundingaheating space through which hot gases are adapted to flow,

closed-ended water tubes projecting radially inwards from thewaterchamber into the heating space, a tubular member centrally Vmounted within the heating space with its wall adjacent to the ends ofthe water tubes.- an inlet passage for the hot gases at the lower end ofthe water-heater so formed that a circular motion around the tubularmember tends to be imparted to the gases in addition to their upwardmotion over the water tubes through the water heater, a central outletfor the gasesat the upper end of the water heater, a by-pass passage anda valve adapted to vary the relative amounts of the hot gases which passrespectively through the by-pass passage and through that part of theheating space in which the water tubes lie.

2., A water heater comprising an annular water chamber surrounding aheating space through which hot gases are adapted to flow, closed-endedwater tubes projecting radially" inwards from the water chamber into theheating space, a tubular member centrally mounted within the heatingspace with its wall adjacent to the ends of the water tubes,

a member at the lower end. of the water heater having a substantiallyhelical guide surface formed therein, means for delivering hot gases onto this guide surface whereby a circular motion around the tubularmember tends to be imparted to the gases in addition to their upwardmotion over the water tubes through the {water heater, a central outletfor the gases at the upper end. of the water heater, a by-pass passage,and a valve adapted to vary the relative amounts of the hot gases whichpass respectively through the by-pass passage and through that part ofthe heating space in which the water tubes lie.

3. A water heater comprising an annular water chamber surrounding aheating space through which hot gases are adapted to flow, closed-endedwater tubes projecting radially inwards from the water chamber into theheating space, a I tubular member disposed centrally within the heatingspace with wall adjacent to the ends of the water tubes,

- an inlet passage for the hot gases at the lower end of the waterheater so formed that a circular motion around the tubular member tendsto be imparted to the gases in addition to their upward motion over thewater tubes through the water heater anoutlet for the gases at the upperend of the water heater, and a valve whereby a variable proportion ofthe hot gases can be by-passed through the tubular member so as not topass through that part of the heating space in which the water tubeslie. 4. A water heater comprlsing anannular Water chamber surrounding aheating space [through which hot gases are adapted to flow,

closed-ended water tubes projecting radially inwards from the waterchamber into the heating space, a tubular member disposed centrallywithin the heating space with its wall adjacent to the ends of the watertubes,

an inlet passage for the hot gases at the lower end of the water heater,an outlet for the gases at the upper end of the water heater and a valvewhereby a variable proportion of the hot gases can be by-passed throughthe tubular member so as not to pass through that part of the heatingspacein which the tubes lie.

'5. A water heater comprising a water chamber surrounding a heatingspace through which hot gases are adapted to How, closed-ended watertubes projecting radially inwards from the water chamber into-theheating space, a longitudinally movable tubular member disposedcentrally within the heating space with its wall adjacent to the ends ofthe water tubes, an inlet passage for the hot gases at the lower end ofthe water'heater so formed that a circular motion around the tubularmember tends to be imparted to the hot gases in addition to their upwardmotion over the water tubes through the water heater, a'c'ent-ral outletpassage for the gases at the upper end of the water heater, :1. memberonwhich the lower end of the tubular member can rest so as to close thisend of the tubular member and thus cause all the hot gases to flowthrough the annular space surrounding it in which the water tubes lie,and means for raising vthe tubular member so as to open its lower endand close communication between the outlet passage in the upper end ofthe water heater and the space 1n which the water tubes lie and thuscause all the hot gases to flow through the tubular member as set forth.

6. A water heater comprising an' annular water chamber surrounding aheating space through which hot gases are adapted to flow, closed-endedwater tubes projecting radially inwards from the water chamber into theheating space, a tubular member Ill all

disposed centrally within the heating space with its wall adjacent tothe ends of the water tubes, a member at the lower end' of the waterheater having a substantially helical guide. surface formed therein,means for delivering hot gases on to this guide surface whereby acircular motion around the tubular 'member tends to be imparted to thehot gases in addition to their upward motion over the water tubesthrough the water heater, a central outlet for the gases at the upperend of the water heater, a conical member mounted on the member at thelower end of the water heater and on which the lower end of the tubularmember can rest so as to close this end of the tubular member and thuscause all the hot gases to flow through the annular space surrounding itin which the water tubes lie, and means for raisingithe tubular memberso as to open its lower end and close communication between the outletpassage at the upper end of the water heater and the space in which thewater tubes lie and thus cause all the hot gases to flow through thetubular member as set forth.

7. A water heater comprising an annular water chamber surrounding aheating space through which hot gases'are adapted to ow, closed-endedwater tubes projecting radial- ,ly inwards from the water chamber, intothe heating space, a longitudinally movable tubular member disposedcentrall within the heating space with its wall adJacent to theends ofthe water tubes, means for delivering hot gases to the lower end of thewater heater, a central outlet passage for the gases at the upper end ofthe water heater, a-member onwhich the lower end of the tubular membercan rest so as to close this end of the tubular member and cause all thehot gases to flow through the annular space surrounding it in which thewater tubes lie, and means for raising the tubular member so as to openits lower end and close communication between the outlet passage at theupperend of the water heater and the space in which the Water tubes lieand thus cause all the hot gases to flow through the tubular memberfasset forth.

Intestimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification,

THOMAS GLARKSON.

